The House of Amber, Joburg’s latest sensory pop-up experience, played host to a memorable finale last Tuesday evening as Inverroche brought its first Amber Housewarming Bartender Competition to a close.
What unfolded was a warm celebration of people, creativity and the pioneering spirit that defines Inverroche Amber. The competition brought together 30 bartenders from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, each invited to explore Inverroche through the creative lens of From Roots to Revelation.
Battle of the Craft: Taking Gin Cocktails to the next Level
Over several weeks, the bartenders immersed themselves in the brand’s world of fynbos and handcrafted distillation. The top nine advanced to a bootcamp at the Inverroche Brand Home in Stilbaai where they took part in a gin masterclass with founder Lorna Scott, hiked the fynbos reserve and experimented with flavours in a process of transformative alchemy, all by hand.
The finals at House of Amber brought this journey into a shared space, where guests tasted each finalist’s cocktail, voted for their favourite and listened to the stories behind each serve. The judging panel, led by award-winning mixologist Julian Short, chef and storyteller Neo Nontso and Managing Director of Inverroche Distillery, Garth Watson, evaluated the finalists on creativity, flavour, connection to the brand and their ability to translate fynbos into something expressive and memorable.
Alongside the winner, the evening showcased the artistry of the remaining two finalists. Devon Andreka, a 14-year industry veteran and general manager at Obscura, presented a spirit-forward serve that revealed his deep understanding of balance, extraction and botanical clarity. Mondli Ntuli, from the iconic Oyster Box Hotel, delivered a serve both spiritual and medicinal, using a symbolic beaded garnish to honour the lineage of love and grounding behind his craft.
THE WINNER MIXOLOGIST
Charné van Heerden, founder of Cape Town’s female-owned HiBall and a nationally awarded bartender, was named the overall winner for her cocktail Roots to Radiance. Known for her bold storytelling, highball innovation and her leadership in championing gender representation in hospitality, Charné brought a deeply human narrative to the glass.
Her serve, crafted with Inverroche Amber, fynbos honey, marmalade liqueur and a honeycomb garnish symbolising the guardians of fynbos, explored nature’s rhythms and the interconnectedness of community. Served on a mirrored coaster and paired with an encouraged moment of inward reflection, her emotive story resonated with both judges and guests.
The Amber Housewarming is an investment into the people who carry Inverroche into the world every day, These bartenders bring our story to life through flavour, hospitality and connection. Watching them explore our heritage and flex their creativity has been inspiring, and we are so happy to welcome all of them into our Inverroche family.”-Lauren Penny, Global Brand Ambassador for Inverroche
While the evening crowned a winner, it also highlighted the true purpose of the competition: to honour the bartenders who share Inverroche across the country and to nurture a community that understands the origins, craft and care behind every bottle. It reinforced that Inverroche is more than a spirit. It is a story shaped by people, place and the fynbos that continues to inspire them.
